Who is the best male basketball player to come out of Brevard County? The debate is on.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary this summer, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. To accompany the national honors, the USA TODAY Network is also recognizing the athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states, including right here on the Space Coast.
These boys basketball honors will form part of a series, selected by a statewide panel of USA TODAY Network experts, to roll out through 2026.
This time, the USA TODAY Network is honoring Brevard County’s basketball stars. Here are our selections for 5 boys hoops players who have stood out over time. These 5 players, listed in alphabetical order, all excelled at the high school level and progressed to further accomplishments.
The poll is located at the bottom of ther story.
More: The best all-time football players from Florida
Reggie Hannah, Titusville High
Hannah led Titusville High to a pair of state title appearances in the mid-1970s. He played college basketball for Florida and South Alabama before being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth round (70th overall pick) of 1982 NBA Draft. He never played in the NBA, but did play in Sweden, France and the Netherlands.
Jumaine Jones, Cocoa native
Jones is originally from Cocoa, Florida, but he moved to southern Georgia as a freshman, where he played high school basketball in Camilla. An NBA player from 1999 to 2007, Jones was drafted out of the University of Georgia by the Atlanta Hawks with the 27th overall pick in 1999, but he was immediately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he spent two years. He also played for Cavaliers, Celtics, Lakers, Bobcats and Suns.
Will Perdue, Merritt Island High
The 7-foot-1 center collected four total NBA championship, three with the Chicago Bulls (1991–1993) and a fourth with the San Antonio Spurs (1999). Perdue was selected by the Bulls with the 11th overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft. He retired following the 2001 season.
Bob Seemer, Cocoa High
Seemer played for Cocoa High, where he was named to the Florida “All-Star State First Team” in 1966. He was the captain of Georgia Tech men’s basketball team. In his freshman year, he set two records and led in six offensive categories, and averaged 20 points per game for the season. Seemer was selected in the 10th round (169 overall) of the 1970 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Obi Toppin, Heritage/MCC
Toppin spent part of his high school career in Brevard County before becoming an NBA standout. He attended Heritage High School in Palm Bay as a freshman before transferring to Melbourne Central Catholic High the next year. Toppin’, his mother and younger brother’s family relocated to Ossining, New York, where he enrolled at Ossining High School going into his junior year. On Nov. 18, 2020, Toppin was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Who is Brevard’s all-time best boys basketball player? Vote now
Reporting by Tim Walters, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
